With Roethlisberger sacked five times and harassed all day by Jared Allen and the Vikings, the Steelers dropped to 0-4 - their worst start since 1968 when they lost their first six games en route to a 2-11-1 record.

Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, acknowledged this is the lowest point of his career.

"We are in uncharted territory and the water is dangerous right now," Roethlisberger said. "It stings. I have to hope and believe we can turn it around.

"That's the approach I'm going to take this week and next week. I'm going to do the best I can to lead these guys and let them see how I go about my job."

With a bye week before facing the New York Jets, and mainly pride left to play to play for, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin put players on notice that jobs could be at stake.

"I have great patience," Tomlin said. "The team will work to get better. As long as I see belief and effort and we continue to improve, that's what's going to change the outcome of these games. If I don't, [they] ain't going to be a part of it, whoever it may be. It's that simple."

Roethlisberger completed 36 of 51 for 383 yards and one touchdown, but also had one interception and a fumble. The fumble came in the final seconds after he led the Steelers from their 22 to a first-and-goal and potential tying touchdown at Minnesota's six-yard line.

On third down, he was sacked by Everson Griffen and Chad Greenway stripped the ball. Kevin Williams recovered with 19 seconds left to seal Minnesota's victory.

"I'm thinking just try to do anything you can to get rid of the ball, throw it away, do something, and I couldn't manage to get it out," Roethlisberger said. "I'm holding it out like a loaf of bread because I'm trying not to just take it to the ground. They got it out late. Even if I'd held on to it, I don't know if we would have had enough time."

Roethlisberger hurt the index finger on his right throwing hand while completing a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery in the fourth quarter. He had the finger taped after the game but said it wasn't serious.

Rookie running back Le'Veon Bell made his regular-season debut for the Steelers and ran for two scores and 57 yards on 16 carries. Wide receiver Antonio Brown had 12 catches for 88 yards and Cotchery had 103 yards on four receptions.

"I felt like we made good strides on offense," Roethlisberger said. "It's just hard to say that and to feel very good about yourself after a loss."

The Steelers' defence gave up nearly 400 yards and again came up without a turnover. Pittsburgh is without a single takeaway this season.